North Face opens new store in Glasgow city centre

An American outdoor clothing firm is poised to open its first dedicated Scottish store in Glasgow's top shopping street.

The North Face, whose fans include newly elected US president Barack Obama, has taken over the former Miss Sixty fashion store on Buchanan Street.

The California-based retailer will launch its first stand-alone Scottish store next month.

In addition to outdoor jackets, fleeces and footwear, it will also sell tents, backpacks and sleeping bags, and snowboarding and climbing equipment.

The two-floor shop, with 223 square metres on the ground floor and 46 sq m in the basement, will incorporate a distinctive design featuring large graphics of the company's inspiring athletes and expeditions.

Stuart Moncur, head of retail services at Scots property agents Cushman and Wakefield, who handled the £360,000-a-year lease, said: "The North Face is a well-known name in Scotland because the brand is already available in a number of outdoor stores.

"But this is the first stand-alone store in this country and a great addition to Buchanan Street and Scotland.

"Interestingly, the upper end of the street is attracting a number of international brands such as Apple, American Apparel, Starbucks and North Face all within a few hundred yards of each other.

"The North Face is keen to establish itself in high-profile locations in the UK and Buchanan Street certainly offers this to this exciting lifestyle brand."

The company recently received a major boost when new US President Obama was pictured wearing one of their fleece jackets to take his daughters to school just five days after winning the election in November.

Other celebrity fans include Friends star Jennifer Aniston and TV presenter Jack Osbourne. News of the clothing firm's arrival in Glasgow was today welcomed by business leaders at a time when some major businesses such as Woolworths, MFI and Zavvi have been hit by the economic downturn.

Richard Cairns, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "The North Face is a hot outdoor fashion brand among younger people, with a wide international presence.

"To have them committing to Buchanan Street is more proof of our ever-growing attraction as a retail location.

"The city centre has everything from premium brands to the cutting edge. I'm sure their store will be a must for Glasgow shoppers and retail tourists alike."